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Delaware first state under Donald Trump to ensure abortion stays legal

Democratic Governor signs into law bill that removes restrictions on abortion from state law

Alexandra Wilts

Washington DC

Sunday 11 June 2017 00:52 BST

Pro-choice and anti-abortion activists demonstrate on the steps of the US Supreme Court (Getty Images)

Delaware has become the first US state since Donald Trump became president to ensure that abortion will remain legal, even if the US leader appoints judges who will rule against abortion rights.

Democratic Governor John Carney Jr signed into law a bill that removed restrictions on abortions from state law, making Delaware the eighth state to guarantee women the right to an abortion.

As a presidential candidate, Mr Trump vowed to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who would help overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Well, if we put another two or perhaps three justices on, that’s really what’s going to be – that will happen,” Mr Trump said during that October debate.

“And that’ll happen automatically, in my opinion, because I am putting pro-life justices on the court. I will say this: It will go back to the states, and the states will then make a determination.”

In January, less than two weeks after becoming president, Mr Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the highest court in the land. The Senate confirmed Mr Gorsuch in April, helping to cement a conservative majority on the nine-justice bench that could last for decades.

But the appointment of conservative judges to the Supreme Court does not guarantee the reversal of past decisions such as Roe v Wade.

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

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1/18 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters gather outside the White House at the finish of the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds attended the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters hold up signage near the Washington Monument during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.

Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters arrive at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights.

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters arrive on the platform at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights.

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Demonstrators protest during the Women's March along Pennsylvania Avenue January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights.

Jessica Kourkounis/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A marcher holds a sign during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.

Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A woman chants while attending the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Mario Tama/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Mario Tama/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters march in Washington, DC, during the Women's March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A protester gestures toward the White House on the Ellipse near the South Lawn of the White House during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

A protester, holding a Donald Trump doll wearing a pink cap, marches in Washington, DC, during the Womens March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office.

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters take to the National Mall to demonstrate against the presidency of Donald Trump Washington, DC on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protesters march during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president.

Mario Tama/Getty

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Demonstrators gather on The Ellipse during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Demonstrators march down Pennsylvania Avenue during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump.

Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington

Protester's signs are left near the White House during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Mario Tama/Getty

In the meantime, Republican-controlled legislatures across the country are continuing their mission to roll back abortion rights.

The Republican governors of Texas and Missouri said this week that they would call their legislators back into special session to deal with anti-abortion legislation.

States including Iowa, Kentucky and Ohio have also recently passed bans on abortions after 20 weeks.

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